Container



A. D. COHN Feb. 1s, y1958 CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deon 20, 1954IN V EN TOR.

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A. D. CCHN Feb. 18, 195s CONTAINER Filed Dc. 2o. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. HrJrur D. Cohn 4 @Mama s. 5TM/M Alg-f.

United States Patent O CONTAINER Arthur D. Cohn, New York, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,447

3 Claims. (Cl. 150-10) The present invention relates to containers. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to containers adapted tohold loose articles such as keys, coins, and the like.

Known containers of this type have several defects. For example, inorder to remove an article from the container it is necessary to useboth hands so that if the user has bundles in one hand and his otherhand is free, it is nevertheless necessary to put down the bundles inorder to get at an article within the container. Also, known containersof this type are quite bulky and weighty so that they are notcomfortably carried about in the pocket vof an article of clothing, forexample. Furthermore, known containers of this type include as a generalrule several rigid metallic parts of substantial dimensions whichundesirably increase the cost of manufacture as well as render the knowncontainers bulky and weighty.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a containerwhich may be operated with one hand to gain access to articles withinthe container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container whichis extremely light and which maintains .a substantially flat shape evenwhen articles are within `the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container witha chain for holding keys or the like and capable of collapsing into anextremely small space so that the container is not undesirably bulged bythe chain.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a containerwhich automatically closes itself whenever the container is released bythe user.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists ofa container which includes a first ilexible sheet material portionhaving an edge folded back upon land joined to itself to form a tubularportion extending along a part of the periphery of the sheet materialportion. A second sheet material portion identical with the rstislocated next to the same with the tubular portions thereof overlyingeach other and with the folded back edges located between the sheetmaterial portions. These sheet material portions are joined together attheir outer peripheries along a path extending from one end of thetubular portions to the opposite end thereof. A pair -of leaf springsare respectively located within and substantially till the tubularportions, these leaf springs having a length slightly shorter than thatof the tubular portions. A pair of clips are respectively connected tothe ends of the tubular portions for closing these ends. A flexiblechain capable of collapsing into an extremely small space is connectedat one end to the container at the interior thereof, and this chain. isformed at its free end portion into a loop which may support keys or thelike.

The novel features which are considered as chara`" teristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both las l0 its construction and its methodof operation, to-

2,823,723 Patented Feb. 1s, i958 gether with additional objects andadvantages thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription of specific embodiments when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a container constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. l in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of part of the container taken along line4--4` of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of part of the container taken along line5-5 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a partly broken away view of the container showing the mannerin which a chain for holding keys: or the like is connected to thecontainer;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating how structure of the inventionis used;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 of a differentembodiment of the invention, Figs. 8 and 9 being taken along lines 8--8and 9--9, respectively, of Fig. l0; and

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevational view illustrating the manner in whichthe structures of Figs. 8 and 9 cooperate.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l shows one of the sheet materialportions 11 of the container 10 of the invention. This sheet materialportion 11 is identical with a second sheet material portion 12 which isaligned with the sheet material portion 11 and located behind the same,as viewed in Fig. 1. As is evident from Fig. 1 these sheet materialportions, which are flexible and made of any suitable plastic, fabric,leather, or the like, are substantially rectangular in shape. As isshown most clearly in Fig. 3 the edge 13 of each sheet material portionis folded back upon and joined to the sheet material portion bystitching or the like 14 to provide each of the sheet material portions11 and 12 with a tubular portion 15 along its upper edge, as viewed inFigs. l and 3. The two sheet material portions 11 and 12 are joined toeach other by stitching or the like 16 which extends along theperipheral edges of the portions 11 and 12 from one tubular portion endto the other end of the tubular portion. If desired this stitching 16may extend across the ends of the tubular portions and close these ends,although it is also possible to leave these ends open.

In any event, before the ends of the tubular portions 15 are closed, apair of leaf springs 17 are respectively located therein, these leafsprings 17 extending along almost the entire length of the tubularportions 15 and substantially filling the same, as is evident from Figs.1 and 3. A pair of clips 18 are located at the ends of the tubularportion. As is evident from Figs. l and 2, each clip 18 is in the formof a tube which is split along its entire length and which has the edgesdefining the split in clamping engagement with the sheet materialportions 11 and 12 at the ends of the tubular portions 15. rl`headvantage of the clips 18 is not only that they provide an exceedinglysimple means for holding the ends of the tubular portions together andas is most clearly evident from Fig. 2 when the clips 1S are pushedtoward each other they will transmit the force of the lingers acting onclips 18 directly to the leaf springs 17 to cause these leaf springs tobulge outwardly away from each other and thus give access to theinterior of thercontainer 10. When the user releases pressure on theclips 18 the springs 17 automaticallysnap the tubular portions 15- backinto engagement withl each other in the position shown'most clearly inFig. 2. Although the maintenance of tubular portions 15 in e'n-jgagement with each other by leaf springs'17 closes the Vcon tainer 10,itmight nevertheless .be possible for some very thn'articlesto slipoutofthe container, and in order to avoid Nthis "undesirable result, the'sheet Y'material portion 12 is provided next to the tubular portion 15thereof with aexible fabric strip 19 .which is ,fastened to the sheetTmatei'al'jp'orti'on f12 andwhich 'hasthereon a raised elongated portion'20nra'defor example of jstitching of a rubberized thread orthe like..This `structureis -shown most clearly in Fig/'4. Fig. 5'showsvhow'thesheet material 'portion '11 is similarlyprovided nexttothetubular portion thereof with Na fabric vstrip v21 joined Abystitchingorthelike tothe :sheet material jportion 11 and having thereona 'raised portion 122 made. of stitches of rubberized thread, forexample. As is cvident'from Fig. 3, the raise'dportions 20 ..an'd..`22arelocated at the' faces ofthe' strips"19 and'21 which confront eachother. 'The tubular vportions 15 are substantially identical and theraised portion 22 is located nearer tothe tubular portion'lS ofthe sheetmaterial portion '12"than the raised portion 20. Y As a result, when thecontainer is closed, the raised portion 22 will become located 'betweenraised portion'20 andtubular portions`15 so 4as to securely close thecontainer and prevent relatively thin. loose articles therein fromfalling out of the container 4without the knowledge of the user.

A particularffeature of theV invention resides in the manner in whichthe. container 10 is adapted to have keys connectedthereto to"be`located therein. As is'shown most clearly in Fig. 6, a strip 23 ofany flexible material isfolded upon itself tdform a loopi 24, andthefree ends of the strip/23. arerstitchedJ between the sheet materialportions y1`1 and 12 at the edges'thereofwhichare distant from thetubular portions 15. A ring is located within the container 10, andtheloop 24 passes through this ring 25.so thatin this Way the strip 23serves to' x the ring 25Sto the interior ofthe container 10. v A chain26 is` fixed to and extends from the ring 25. -This chain 26 is `madeup` of aplurality of identical links 27 which are made of a fairly tinewire. 'As a result, it is possible for the chain 26 to collapse i'nto anextremely small space as indicated roughly in Fig. 3. NThe end ofthechain26 distant from ring 25 is connected to a ring 28, and thisring28 carries a resilient hookvmember 29. Furthermore aring is connectedftoone ofthe links 27 at a part of the chain between its ends, so that whenthe hook 29` engages the ring 30 al loopis formed. This loop. may.extend through the holes of keys r.orthe like so thatin ,this way such-keys fareconnectedto the chain 26. When the keys together withthe keychain ,arelocatedwithin the ycoutainer 10,.the loop permits the keys tolie at between the sides .of the containerand since .the chain itself is.extrernely exible .and .made .up of ,small links whichareollapsiblentoa.small. space,. it is possible` to. maintain thesubstantially flat shape fof the container.

`4`'l't is. evidentthat withthe above described varrangementthe'chainldoes.. not provide a bulky weighty'mass-'and it iscollapsibleintoy an. extremelyJ small. space so that: even with-keys -connected to.thechain the `entire container with" the keys.and.chaintherein willlstill be substantially flat. n'Furthermore it will be noted that it ispossible for the userto get at the keys within the container with onlyone hand. QTo do this it is only necessary to hold-.the mouth.of.thecontainer formed by tubular portions 15 in a downwardly directedposition and to press the clips18 toward each other in themannerillustrated in Fig. 7 so as to open the mouthv of theeontainer,`whereupon the chain and vkeys .will tall. fromuthevinterior of thecontainer by gravity,the` strip. 23 maintaining ,connection between thechain .26 andl container y10.

, .Eigsf 8-:10 show `azzditerent embodiments oftheinventon-.accordinglto whichrfabricv strips 21.'.;and .19are-proxridedwith apluralityA ofraisedtportions `22 and .12W-Which v aresimilarito .thef raised ..portions,.:22-,;and v2l). and er.; are

.made of tlexible material; for example. of;stitching. of ,rubberized"`thread :or ;,the.like... As issevident from Fig- 10,`vlltentlreisheenmaterialt*portions.flltandtlZft of; ,F.igs. 8

land 9 are assembled to make the nished container, as

`shownvin 1Fig. l0, the vflexible raised portions `20beeome locatedbetween the raisedvportions 22 to interlock as shown and the raisedportions or interlocking members provide thereby a very effective sealfor the container. If coins are kept in the container, then the spacebetween the interlocking raised portions is kept to a distance smallerthan the diameter I.ofthe smallest coin.

It will be noted thatwith thestructure of the invention described aboveit is unnecessary to place the keys on steel hooks which are ditliculttoopen. Instead with the structureofthe invention it is only necessaryltoseparatehook 29 from ring 30, which is adjacent the center of the vchain26, slip the hookg,2,9ring,2r8, andchain26 through the keys and thenconnect hook 29 again with ring 30, the arrangement being that shown inFig. 7. With this arrangement not only is it possible to have access tokeys simplypby pressingthe clipsm18 toward each other, but

in ,addition the keys lare on a flexiblel member and are therefore veryeasy to .grasp ,and manipulate wit Athe full hand. v i LIt ,will bevunderstood that. each of the `elernents`described ,above, or ,two orlmore together, may, also find/Ka useful application in other types ofcontainers fvdilfering from 'the -types `described above. 4

.Whle the invention` has been Yillustrated and described as embodied inkey .containers,. itvis not in'tenfded'tolbe limited to the detailsshown, since] variousfmodications and-'structural changesy may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of thepresentinvention.

",Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal 'the gistof `the present invention 'that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for`various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialycharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and ran'gefof equivalence of thefollowing claims.

lkWhat is claimed as new and desired to be secured'by Letters Patent is:'v

l. A container comprising, in combination, a first ilexible sheetmaterial portion having'v an edge folded back upon and joined to itselfto form a tubular portion extending along a part of the periphery ofsaid sheet material portion; asecond sheet material portion-identicalwith said first sheet material portion located next to the same withsaid .tubularportions 'overlying each other and with :said edgeslocatedbetween said-sheet material portions, said sheet materialportions being joined together at their outer peripheries lalong apathextending from one end of said tubularportions -tortheopposite end`thereof; a pair of leaf springs respectively located within andsubstantially lfilling saidttubular portions, Vsaidvleafsprings having alength slightly.-lessthanr thatl of said tubular portions; a pair-lofclips-'respectively connected-torand-closing the ends of' said tubularportions; apair-of vllexiblestrips located between andrespectively.fixed to saidvsheet material portions next to-.said tubularportionsthereof; a plurality of flexible interlocking vmembers.trespectively fxed to said Vpair of strips;Atheinterlocking,members-fixed to oneof-.s'aid strips projecting`towardf the interlocking..members .fixed tothe Othen ofsaid strips,sothat-. said interlocking members close theinteriori of v thecontainenwhensaid tubular portions are :located next to eachother;along,their.entire length.

2 ...A3C9ntainen comprising,- in `combination, ka rstflexible;r sheet;material; portion having.,l an edge folded back upon and joined ,to:itself fto form atubular `portion ,extendingfalong apart `of theperiphery., of `-said sheetma'terial portion; a :second Asheet .materialportion identical with saidirstheet. material portion`y located Ynexttosthe; same with said tubular portions overlying each other and withsidy :edges loeatedrbetween said sheetma'terial-.portins saidlsheet.Imaterial portionsbeing joined.. together atltheir outer peripheriesalong a, patlrt'extending. fromsone mnd of. said. ,tubular portions. tothe opposite endl thereof; alpair of leaf springs respectively locatedwithin and substantially filling said tubular portions, said leafsprings having a length slightly less than that of said tubularportions; a pair of clips respectively connected to and closing the endsof said tubular portions; a pair of flexible strips 1ocated between andrespectively fixed to said sheet material portions next to said tubularportions thereof; a plurality of substantially parallel interlockingmembers fixed to each strip and extending along the face of said stripwhich is directed toward the other strip, the interlocking members onone of said strips being located at different distances from the tubularportion of said one strip than the interlocking members on the other ofsaid strips and the interlocking members of one strip being locatedbetween and alternating with the interlocking members of the other stripwhen the container is closed.

3. A container comprising, in combination, a first ilexible sheetmaterial portion having an edge folded back upon and joined to itself toform a tubular portion extending along a part of the periphery of saidsheet material portion; a second sheet material portion identical withsaid first sheet material portion located next to the same with saidtubular portions overlying each other and with said edges locatedbetween said sheet material portions, said sheet material portions beingjoined together at theirouter peripheries along a path extending fromone end of said tubular portion to the opposite end, thereof;

a pair of leaf springs respectively located within and substantiallyfilling said tubular portions, said leaf springs having a lengthslightly less than that of said tubular portions; a pair of clipsrespectively connected to and closing the ends of said tubular portions;a pair of flexible strips located between and respectively xed to saidsheet material portions next to said tubular portions thereof; aplurality of flexible interlocking members respectively fixed to saidstrips and distributed at the faces thereof, said interlocking membersbeing respectively directed toward each other so that said interlockingmembers close the interior of the container when said tubular portionsare located next to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,658,294 Lewis Feb. 7, 1928 2,041,190 Kuhlke May 19, 1936 2,232,888Schimelmitz Feb. 25, 1941 2,514,750 Dobbs et al. July ll, 1950 2,629,251Schwalberg Feb. 24, 1953 2,646,096 Knee et al July 2l, 1953 2,666,466Sharat Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,310 Great Britain May 1, 1912

